Spanish Athletics Federation Condemns Death of Long Jumper in Toledo Crash

A collision between two high-speed trains in Toledo province, Spain, killed at least 68 people on Wednesday.

Emiliano Garcia-Page, the president of the Castilla-La Mancha regional government, confirmed the death toll and reported that approximately 80 people sustained injuries. Of the injured, 50 suffered serious harm while 15 were in critical condition. Medical teams transported the most severe cases to hospitals in Madrid and the surrounding region.

Julieta Gallego, a 24-year-old long jumper, was among the victims. She competed for the Madrid-based club AD Sprint and was a frequent participant in national club championships. Her personal best in the long jump stood at 5.90 metres, a distance she recorded in Antequera in 2023.

The Royal Spanish Athletics Federation issued a statement on X on Thursday to announce her death. The organization stated that the Spanish athletics community joined in the grief over her passing and offered support to her family and teammates. Raul Chapado, the federation president, spoke to the Spanish newspaper ABC about the loss. He described Gallego as a life that had been unjustly extinguished and noted that the event struck at the heart of the sport.

The accident occurred on the rail line connecting Madrid to southern Andalusia. It represents the second fatal incident on this route in less than a year. Emergency teams set up a triage area in a sports hall near the crash site. They assessed survivors and sorted them by injury severity before sending them home or to hospitals. Local media described survivors as having head wounds, facial swelling, and bloodied clothing, with many appearing dazed.